A Pilot Study Of the Effects of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy on Kaposi's Sarcoma in Zimbabwe

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government.
Read our disclaimer for details.

Open-label study of a regimen of antiretrovirals for the treatment of AIDS-KS. This study will be conducted at a single site, the Parirenyatwa Hospital KS Clinic.

Step 1 was conducted to determine the extent of clinical resolution of AIDS-KS disease in response to treatment with antiretroviral therapy and to investigate whether clinical resolution of KS is associated with suppression of KSHV replication.

Step 2 was developed to then evaluate the clinical, immunological, and virological effects of a switch from a twice-daily all-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) antiretroviral regimen to a once-daily regimen of 2 NRTIs plus a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor in persons with AIDS-KS and good virologic suppression an all NRTI regimen.

Step 3 was included to evaluate the clinical, immunological, and virological effects of intensification with a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor in persons with AIDS-KS who have virological failure on an all NRTI regimen.

To identify factors associated with successful treatment of KS with antiretroviral therapy and to determine if highly active antiretroviral therapy improves survival and quality of life for persons with AIDS-KS in Zimbabwe.

A secondary objective is to investigate the durability of HIV-1 suppression by the combination of ABC/3TC/ZDV in persons infected with HIV-1 subtype C and to evaluate the timing and characteristics of mutations in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in subjects who fail to achieve, or to maintain suppression of HIV-1 replication during treatment with ABC/3TC/ZDV.

An important objective is to assess adherence to a simplified antiretroviral regimen in a resource-limited setting.

The study will evaluate the clinical, immunological, and virological effects of a switch from a twice-daily all-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) antiretroviral regimen to a once-daily regimen of 2 NRTIs plus a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor in persons with AIDS-KS and good virologic suppression on ABC/3TC/ZDV (see above).

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:Completion of at least 96 weeks of treatment with ABC/3TC/ZDV on protocol Step 1.